Description
This announcement is being prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation(FAR) Part 5.203 and FAR 6.302-1(2). The NAICS Code for this requirement is 813312 with a small business size standard of 500 employees. Overview:The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, intends to negotiate and potentially award a non-competitive fixed price cost-reimbursement type contract to the Interior Alaska Land Trust(IALT), of Fairbanks, Alaska. The proposed contract being considered for negotiations shall include a base period not-to-exceed December 31, 2009. This requirement is a follow-on project to previous years contracts that have aided in the establishment and continuation of the Chena Flats Green Belt Project near Fairbanks, Alaska. As such, it is not anticpaited that open competition will result in a more viable source for continuation of the project. Background:In May 2005, with help from the IALT, members of the Fairbanks community formed the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project. The greenbelt project is located in Fairbanks, Alaska between the base of Chena Ridge and the Chena Pump Road. A major goal of the Project is to conserve a portion of the remaining high-quality wetlands in the Fairbanks area to benefit wildlife and to protect surface and groundwater quality. These lowlands encompass some of the last remaining natural lakes and wet-meadow wetlands in the immediate Fairbanks area. The greenbelt also provides habitat for moose, lynx, owls, swans, cranes, and numerous other water birds. The goal of the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project is to conserve approximately 600 acres of wildlife habitat and protect approximately 10 miles of multi-use trails. The IALT has been instrumental in the initiation of the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project over previous years as they have supplied technical advice, organization, and non-profit status for raising funds to protect this area of Alaska. The proposed contract being considered will expand their conservation efforts on behalf of the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project as well as potentially other conservation projects within the Fairbanks Area. The IALT will identify and target conservation needs in areas important to fish and wildlife resources that are also subjected to increasing development pressures. The proposed contract will provide funds for IALT to schedule and hold public meetings, produce outreach materials, conduct mailings, and otherwise coordinate land conservation efforts within the Fairbanks area. Purpose and Objectives:The proposed follow-on contract shall provide reimburable funding for education efforts aimed at residents in Fairbanks regarding the need for open space and wildlife habitat, and in turn create support for conservation efforts within the Fairbanks area, including Chena Flats. The IALT will develop a strategic plan that recognizes and connects multiple trail systems, existing open space and proposed open space areas together into a coherent, realistic approach to the conservation of these areas of open space. IALT will assist in negotiating the protection of key parcels within the Chena Flats Greenbelt as well as other projects as identified through the planning and outreach process of the proposed contract. Specifically, IALT will:Establish an Outreach/Project Coordinator position to initiate educational and informational outreach to organizations and key individuals in the Fairbanks area. This outreach will focus on the benefits of land conservation projects in the Fairbanks area. The Outreach/Project Coordinator shall:-Contact no fewer than twelve (12) organizations during the FY2008-2009 grant period, and will work to form partnerships with these groups to further land conservation efforts in Interior Alaska.-Organize no fewer than 4 community meetings, at least one dealing with the Chena Flats Greenbelt Project prior to November 1, 2009 to promote and discuss conservation projects and their value in the Fairbanks area. -Brief reports on the outcome of these meetings shall be submitted to the Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office no later than 30 days after the meetings take place. -Negotiate the protection of key parcels of land by meeting with interested landowners and discussing the conservation options and benefits available to them. If beneficial to these negotiations, the coordinator may direct the use of these funds to land surveys and appraisals. -An interim report of these activities shall be submitted to the Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office by June 1, 2009 and a final report of all activities undertaken during the contract period by December 31, 2009. -Recipient shall forward to the US Fish and Wildlife Service technical point of contact an interim report by June 1, 2009, and a final report summarizing all project accomplishments under the proposed contract by no later than December 31, 2009. Brief summary reports shall follow each organized community meeting. This announcement is not a request for competitive proposals as the government does not intend to evaluate or consider any proposal received in response to this announcement. It is anticipated that negotiations between the governement and the contractor for this requirement will occur approximately 10 days following the posting of this announcement on or about January 5, 2009, with a proposed award date of approximately February 1, 2009. See Numbered Note 22.